Use of snus, a moist, smokeless tobacco product, may lead to local changes in the oral mucous membrane in the area where the snus is placed. It can also cause irreversible gingival retraction. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the relationship between use of snus, oral mucosal lesions (snus induced lesions) and gingival retractions among adolescents in Norway.

This study investigate factors associated with the initiation and continuation of snus use in adolescents in Norway. The associations with adolescents’ own educational plans, the parents’ educational level(s) and tobacco habits were estimated.
These findings may aid in developing and targeting tobacco prevention strategies aimed at young people. Tobacco prevention measures should start at the elementary school level. The strong association with parental tobacco habits underlines the importance of parents’ influence on their children’s tobacco use.